District to launch new safety system

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The City School District of Albany will implement a new digital security system district-wide beginning Dec. 1 to enhance safety procedures at all buildings.

The new system, Raptor, will require visitors and employees to show identification upon entering a district building. The system will store directory information for all future visits in order to expedite our normal visitor check-in process and student check-out process.

In addition to the primary safety and operational objectives, the new system will assist with the required contact tracing associated with the protocols of COVID-19.

“Raptor will enable the district to streamline and update the manual process of our visitor check-in procedures and our student check-out process, and also facilitate the required contact tracing in alignment with Department of Health guidelines,” said Superintendent Kaweeda G. Adams. “This new system will allow us to maintain the overall safety of students, staff and visitors in the future.”

There are a number of acceptable identification forms that are accepted at all district buildings. Please see the list below. Should you have questions, please contact our Pupil Personnel Services Department at (518) 475-6130.

  • State-issued driver’s license
  • Military-Issued Identification
  • Passport identification card
  • Passport
  • Birth certificate
  • Mexican Consulate card
  • Permanent resident card
  • Alien registration receipt
  • Employment authorization document
  • Voter registration card
  • Native American tribal document
  • Driver’s license issued by a Canadian government authority
  • Any official document indicating the visitor’s full name and date of birth (insurance card, Medicaid card and bank card are acceptable)

The new system digitizes many of the district’s current security procedures. Board of Education policy requires all visitors to present a valid form of identification when they enter a district building.

The new safety system will require visitors lacking valid identification to speak with the building principal.

Identification information collected will not be shared with any individuals or organizations outside the school district, in alignment with the district’s existing practices regarding paper-based building security procedures.